Folding chair



A. L. RIBEIRG,

FOLDING CHAlR.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 3. 1921.

1,381,136., PatentedJune 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR- WITNESS AT'roRNEvs A. L; mama.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILEDYJAN. 3, 1921.

Patented June 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS ATTORNEYS UNHTED STATES ALBERTO RIBEIRO, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application filed January 3, 1921.

provide a folding chair, stool, table or the' like which, when unfolded and set' up for use will be rigid, comfortable, of great strength and of pleasing and. ornamental appearance and which may be readily folded or collapsed from such position into a small and compact form for convenient transportation, storage or shipment. Further ob- 'jects of my invention are to provide an article embodying the foregoing characteristics which is simple in construction, design and operation and in which, when in unfolded or operative position, the several parts cobperate in such manner as to materially enhance the rigidity and firmness of the structure.

My invention further comprehends the production of an article of the class described which ma be manufactured and marketed at a relative y low cost, which is light in weight and not easily damaged in use, and further comprehends all of the other various objects and novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more particularly specified and described.

It will be understood that my invention may be embodied in various articles of furniture such as chairs, stools, tables and the like, but for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to practise the invention '1 have illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will not proceed to describe two slightly different forms thereof, that shown in Figures-1 to 4 inclusive being an armchair and that shown in Fig. 5 being a four-legged stool without back or arm rest which also ma be employed as a table.

n the said drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the chair in unfolded position and set up ready for use, the method of attaching or removing the back and arm rests being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the back and arm rests removed and the method of attaching or removing the seatindicated in dotted lines.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Serial No. 434,413.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame of the chalr in partly folded position, and Fig. 4 a view in side elevation of the frame of the chair in completely folded position. Fig. 5 1s a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referrlng now more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 incluslve, the same comprises four vertically extending uprights 1, 1, 2, 2', which, when the device is in unfolded position, form the corner posts thereof. These uprights are preferably formed of suitable light but rigid material, such as wood, and serve to pivotally or hmgedly support the several struts and braces hereinafter more particularly described. The uprights 2, 2' in this form of the lnvention are made somewhat longer than the front uprights 1, 1 so as to receive the back 4 and maintain the same in proper pos1t1on.

Respectively pivotally secured as by the p1vots 6 to the front uprightsl, 1' are members 7, 7' which, when extended, together form a transversely extending brace or cross member A. The members 7, 7' lie side by side and are pivoted together on a horizontal pivot 8 preferably positioned equidistant from the pivots 6, the free endsof the members, that is, the ends opposite the pivots 6,-

being respectively beveled inwardly and downwardly so as to present diagonal surfaces 9, 9 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. It will be understood that the brace'A is arranged so as to lie adjacent or slightly below the seat when the chair is unfolded and that a substantially similar brace or cross member B is arranged at the back of the chair to ex tend between the uprights 2, 2 parallel to the brace A and preferably in substan tially the same horizontal lane. Similar braces or cross members C, are arranged at the sides of the chair to extend respectively between the uprights 1, 2 and 1', 2' and at right angles, in the form of the invention shown, to the braces A and B. It will be understood, of course, that the arrangement and construction of the members forming the braces B, C and D and the method of securing them to each other and to the several uprights, is preferably substantially the same as has already been described with regard to the members forming the brace A, and it is therefore believed that further detailed description thereof is unnecessary. However, the braces C and D are preferably secured to the uprights at points slightly higher than those at which the braces A and B are secured thereto, so that the former when extended will lie in a horizontal plane slightly above the plane of the latter.

Pivotally secured near the lower extremities of the uprights 1, 1' in any suitable manner, as by the pivots ,10, and extending diagonally upward therefrom but in opposide directions when the chair is in unfolded position, are a pair of struts 12, 12 which are arranged to cross each other at a point 13 somewhere midway between their ends. The upper end of each of these struts is pivotally secured, as by the pivots 14, to,

one of the members 7, 7 forming the brace 1 A, the strut 12 being secured to the member 7 at a point about midway" between the pivot 8 and the pivot 6 and the strut 12 being similarly secured to the member 7, each strut and the member to which it is secured lying in the same vertical plane. The points of attachment of the struts to the members are such that the beveled or diagonal surfaces 9,9 respectively formed.

at the ends of each of the members will, when the chair; is in unfolded position, contact with and bear firmly against the upper surface ofthe adjacent struct whereby the several elements cooperate to maintain the uprights 1, 1' in vertical position and the members 7, 7 in horizontal ,position and aflord a rigid securely braced framework adapted to support a weight resting upon or acting downwardly a ainst the cross member A. The upper en s of the struts 12,

12 are preferably beveled as at 16, 16' so as to form a prolongation of the upper surface of the adjacent member of the brace, but these surfaces perform no function in enhancing the rigidity of the structure corresponding to that of the surfaces 9, 9'.

- It will beunderstood that a pairof struts corresponding to the struts 12, 12 are provided at each side and the back of the chair to respectively cooperate with the. braces C, D and B in a manner similar to that hither,-

to described in connection with the braceA and struts 12, 12 at the front of the chair, so that when the device is unfolded, for example, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, a very rigid framework is afforded, adapted to support a 1 weight acting downwardly upon the braces and in which the corner uprights are maintained in vertical position and the several braces in horizontal position. This framework, however, may be easily collapsed or folded by moving the uprights inwardly ,'toward each other as best shown in Fig. 3, which operation, if continued, finally results in bringing the several parts to substantially the position shown in Fig.- 4, in which the framework fabric seat 21 may be provided along itsopposite edges with pockets 22, 22 for the reception of the respective battens which can be slipped through the pockets and either permitted to rest loosely therein or else be permanently secured to the fabric by tacks or the like. The seat is assembled or removed from the framework in the manner best shown in dotted lines in Fig.

2, that is, by engaging the ends of the'battens projecting beyond the fabric over the outer faces of the uprights and lowering them into position to rest on the upper surface of the braces C and D as shown in Fig. 1, in which position the fabric is tightly stretched and forms a convenient and comfortable seat which, however, may be readily removed when it is desired to fold the chair by liftingithe battens upwardly to a point' at which they maybe readily disengaged from the uprights.

For the purpose of affording suitable back rest and arm rests the back 4 may be employed, the same being formed of suitable fabric such as canvas and preferably comprising a sort of inverted pocket of suitable depth which is adapted to be slipped over the upper ends of the back uprights and when in position thereon forms a comfortable support for the shoulders of a person seated in the chair; while extending forwardly from the back-"4 are preferably provided a pair of flat strips of fabric 25, 25 having rings 26, 26 or other means secured to their forward ends adapted to engage the upper ends of the front uprights ofthe frame, thereby affording convenient and comfortable arm rests for the occupant of the chair. The manner of assembling the backand arm rests upon the frame is clearly indicated in Fig. 1 in which these parts are shown both in full lines in their assembled osition and in dotted lines as they are being brought thereto. It will, of.

course, be understood that ordinarily when the chair is folded the seat and back are rolled around the folded framework and the same length and the back and arm supports omitted, the uprights terminating at a point just above the battens when the latter are in position and the device thus constituting a stool, camp chair or table.

While I have herein described certain forms of my invention with considerable particularity, I do not thereb desire or intend to limlt myself specifica ly thereto, as minor changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement as desired and the uses to which the invention may be put or the particular articles of furniture in which it may be embodied may beyaried, so long as the same come within the scope andpurview of the ap ended claims.

aving thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States: i

L L A device of the class described comprising when in unfolded condition a plurality of vertically extending uprights located at the corners of the device, cross members extending horizontally in opposite directions between each pair of adjacent uprights, each of said members being pivoted ad acent 1ts outer end to one of said u rights and having its inner end beveleddiagonally downward, a pivot connecting said members, and a pair 0 struts, each member of the pair being pivoted near its lower end to one of said uprights and near its upper end to'one of sa1d cross-members and each strut being in cooperative engagement with the beveled end of another of said members to support said member in horizontal position.

2. A device of the class described comprising when in unfolded condition a pluralit of vertically extending uprights locate at the corners of the device, a pair of cross members extending horizontally in opposite directions between each pair of adj acent uprights, each of said members bein pivoted near its'outer end to one of s'ai upri hts, a piyot connecting said members, the rec :end of each member extending beyond said pivot, and a pair of struts, each member of said pair being pivoted adjacent its lower end to one of said u rights and adjacent its upper end to one 0 said members, each strut engaging and supporting the free end of the other member to maintain said member in horizontal position, said cross members and struts in folding permitting the device to collapse at all sides of the same.

3.A device of the class described comprising when in unfolded condition a plurality of vertically extending uprights located at the corners of the device, a pair of cross members positioned side by side and extending horizontally between each pair of adjacent uprights and in opposite directions, each of said members being pivoted adjacent its outer end to one of said up rights and having its free inner end overlapping the. other member, a pivot connectmg sa1d members at a point equidistant from their points of attachment to said up- I rights, and a strut pivoted to each of said uprights adjacent the lower end thereof and extending upwardly therefrom and pivoted to one of said members, said struts crossing each other below said members and each engaging the free end 'of the member opposite to that to which the strut is pivoted to support said member in horizontal position, said cross members and struts in folding permitting the device to'collapse at all sidesof the same. a

4. A device of the class described comprising when in unfolded condition a plurality of vertically extending uprights located at.

the corners of the device, a plurality of horizontally extending members each pivoted at one end to one of said uprights and having its free end beveled diagonally downward, a pair of said members being respectively arranged on each side of said device and on the front and back thereof, extendin in opposite directions, overlapping each 0t er and being pivotally secured together to form a brace, a plurality of upwardly angularly extending struts each pivoted adjacent its lower end to one of said uprights and pivoted adj acent its upper end to the member extending from the opposite upright on that -'side of the device, the upper face of each strut engaging the beveled end of the other of said pair of members and being cooperative therewith to maintain .said member in horizontal position, said cross members and struts in folding permitting the device to collapse, at all sides of the same.

5. The combination with a device of the class described comprising a plurality of vertically extending u rights and means for maintaining said .uprights in vertical position, of a removable seat comprising a fabric portion and a pair of battens disposed in parallel relation adjacent the side edges of said fabric and adapted to engage the faces.

said uprights to maintain said fabric in ten- I sioned condition therebetween.

7. The combination with a deviceof the class described comprisin a plurality of vertically extending uprig ts, a removable seat and means for maintainin said seat in horizontal position between sai uprights, of a back and arm rest comprising an inverted pocket of flexible material adapted to engage the upper extremities of two of. said uprights, a strip of flexible material extending from said pocket, and means for securing the free end of said strip to another of said uprights.

8. The combination with a device of the class described comprising fourvertically extending uprights, means for maintaining said uprights in vertical position, a remov- ,se1,1ae

able seat and means for holding said seat in operative position between said uprights, of

a back and arm rest comprising an inverted pocket formed of fabric and adapted to engage over the extremities of the two uprights orming the back legs of the device, and a pair of spaced strips of fabric secured to and extending forwardly from said pocket, and means operative to secure the free ends of said strips to the uprights forming the 25 front legs of the device. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of December, 1920.

ALBERTO LEITE RIBEIRO. 

